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(b) If a book has not been used by an infected patient but has been used by
some person in an infected room, or has been stood or laid in an infected
room, it should be disinfected by being stood in a fumigating chamber in such
a position that the back of the cover may be upward and stand away from the
back of the leaves, the sides being spread out like the letter A, so as to expose
the leaves as much as possible and to support the book in this its most
exposed position.
(c) If a book has not been used by an infected patient and has not been
within the infected room and has only stood or lain in some other part of the
dwelling, it will be sufficient if the edges, cover and back be carefully dusted
and thoroughly cleansed in the open air. It is not necessary, but if thought
desirable they may be wiped over with a cloth damped with some liquid
disinfectant.
The Disinfectants.
(а) Infected books requiring to be destroyed by tire are burnt either in the
incinerator at the Disinfecting Station, or are sent to the furnaces at the
Refuse Destructor, according to their bulk and number.
(b) Infected books requiring to be disinfected are treated at the Disinfecting
Station. Steam heat is absolutely ruinous to books, and dry heat dries the
adhesive substances and the cover materials, so that the parts warp unequally
and separate from each other. Therefore, books are not subjected to heat, wet
or dry, in the hot Chambers, but are disinfected in the fumigating Chamber.
Sulphurous acid gas (from burning sulphur) tends when in close proximity, to
turn the metallic lettering on books black. Formaldehyde gas is free from
this drawback, and as this is a highly diffusible gas the surfaces of the
fumigating Chamber have been specially treated so as to stop all leakages and
absorption and to render the process effectual.
(c) Books merely requiring to be dusted and cleansed can be dealt with at
home, and if it is particularly desired to use a disinfectant they may be wiped
with a cloth damped in strong solution of washing soda.
November, 1905.